Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, any potential donation of bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from adults who lack capacity to consent and children who lack competence to consent, must be assessed by an Accredited Assessor (AA) and a report submitted to the HTA for decision.

The HTA is responsible for assessing all donations of bone marrow or PBSC (these are cells found in the bloodstream which are able to develop into all of the different cell types in blood) from adults who lack capacity to consent and children who lack competence to consent.